Detroit Tigers: 5 Free Agent Targets for 2016

Jul 2, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Antonio Bastardo (59) walks off the field after being relieved in the eighth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

#5 Antonio Bastardo

It appears that the Detroit Tigers will go through the entire 2015 season without a dedicated 8th inning setup man. In that spot this year they have tried Angel Nesbitt, Joba Chamberlain, Bruce Rondon, Neftali Feliz, a bat boy and the ghost of Harry Covelski, all usually to dreadful results.

So it is clear that a setup man must be high on their 2016 shopping list. For this we present Antonio Bastardo.

The left-hander seems to be a perennial trade target at the deadline and often rumored to the Tigers. He has been up and down during his career, but at the age of 30 (on September 21), he may be coming into the peak of his career.

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Bastardo spent the first six years of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, giving them a decent bullpen option during their contending years through roughly 2012 and most recently their terrible years.  After always being on the trade rumor circuit, the Phillies traded Bastardo, one of their most reliable bullpen options, to the Pittsburgh Pirates during the off-season.

Bastardo is not having the best of years, but he is certainly have a better year than a majority of the Tigers’ bullpen, especially the pitchers that have been bandaged into the eighth inning this year.

He is sporting a 3.90 ERA in 36 games, with a 1.367 WHIP. He has not had a blown save (all relievers receive a blown save if they let a lead slip away) since his first appearance of the season, has earned five holds and a save for a potent Pirates’ bullpen.

A middle reliever, Bastardo should not break the bank, allowing the Tigers to target several other free agents.

Plus wouldn’t this guy–with this name–make for entertaining #TigersTwitter if and when he has a couple rough outings?

Next: Clippard

Jul 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Athletics pitcher Tyler Clippard (36) follows through on a pitch against the Seattle Mariners in the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Athletics defeated the Mariners 2-0. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

#4: Tyler Clippard

As much as the Detroit Tigers need a setup man, they will need a closer in 2016. With the way Joakim Soria has been misused and mismanaged by Brad Ausmus in his 1 1/2 years here, it is almost a certainty he has a bad taste for the team and wants to test the waters elsewhere.

With the Tigers reluctance to give him a role last year, and their reluctance to make him closer until Joe Nathan was injured early this season, it seems clear the organization does not hold Soria’s skills in high esteem.

They could, of course, go with Nathan as closer in 2016 if they choose and his health will allow. The Tigers actually hold a $10 million team option on the soon-to-be 41-year-old pitcher, but it seems extremely likely they will pay him his $1 million buyout and say adieu.

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So where does that leave us? Bruce Rondon? He was given the closers role in Spring Training 2013 and didn’t even make it to the Opening Day roster. Alex Wilson? His future may be as a starter. Angel Nesbitt? He showed flashes early this year but does not appear to be ready.

So how about closer Tyler Clippard? He was actually traded by the Oakland Athletics to the New York Mets on Monday in yet another Moneyball rebuilding effort.

Clippard is playing in the final year of his original deal that began with the New York Yankees and transferred to the Washington Nationals and now Oakland and with the Mets via trades.

He was the Nationals’ primary closer in 2012, saving 32 games and has become more important in that role with Oakland this year saving 17 out of 19 games, although he has blown his last two save opportunities as of Monday.

Clippard is fairly young (will be 31 next season) and figures to cost less and be more valuable than the bloated contract the Tigers dispensed to their last closer. He would also probably come a little cheaper than Soria if the Tigers did indeed want to pursue that option.

Next: Fister

Oct 16, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Doug Fister (58) looks for a sign against the Boston Red Sox in game four of the American League Championship Series baseball game at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

#3: Doug Fister

Time to right a wrong and bring Doug Fister back home. Detroit Tigers’ fans will never forget the move that sent Fister away in his prime, but perhaps he has got a couple good years left in his arm.

There are distinct drawbacks to bringing this unrestricted free agent back to Detroit, namely his injury issues. Fister missed the start of last season and missed an extended amount of time this season. That delayed start in 2014 was no issue once Doug got going, posting a career-high 16 victories in his first year with the Washington Nationals.

This year has been more of a struggle for Fister, going just 3-6 in 13 starts, posting a 4.50 ERA and 1.473 WHIP. That is not ideal, especially in a contract year, but it can certainly bring his price tag down.

Fister is familiar with the Tigers’ organization, pitched well at Comerica Park and, at 32 years of age next year, would be a good middle rotation option–certainly an upgrade over Alfredo Simon.

I could see the Tigers being able to get a fair deal in the vein of Anibal Sanchez‘s contract signed before 2013 (5-years, $80 million) adjusted for inflation but for fewer years, maybe 2 or 3 with an option for an additional year.

Next: Zimmermann

Jul 17, 2015; Washington, DC, USA; xxx Washington Nationals starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann (27) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers during the first inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

#2: Jordan Zimmermann

If the Detroit Tigers are going to lose David Price, they had better get a new #1 starter. Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez will be the most experienced pitchers left on the roster but each have struggled at points this season and are clearly not the same pitchers they used to be.

So perhaps it is time for the Tigers to pay back the Nationals for taking away Max Scherzer by stealing away one of their aces. It is the very reason that Scherzer and his insane deal are in place in Washington that Zimmermann will likely be available this offseason unless they trade oft-injured ex-future-superstar Stephen Strasburg.

Betsided

Zimmermann is on his way to his fourth straight double-digit win season, beginning with 12 in 2012, a career-high 19 in 2013, 14 last year and 8 so far this year. He is sporting a decent, but high for him, ERA of 3.30 and a respectable WHIP of 1.231. He would give the Tigers something they excelled with in the glory days of their starting pitcher core: a strikeout pitcher. He had 182 last year and 90 so far in 2015.

Zimmermann will be an expensive addition to the Tigers, but they do not really have a choice if they want to compete in the next few seasons.

They will need to replace two starters for the second straight season in Price and Simon and will have another hole in the back-end of the rotation if Shane Greene can not solve his problems by next Spring Training.

The Tigers will need to open up the wallets. They appear not to want to spend a fortune on Price, and while Zimmermann will be costly he will probably be more of a bargain than Scherzer or Price. 

Next: Cespedes

Jul 11, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Yoenis Cespedes (52) waits for his gear after the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. The Twins win 9-5. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

#1 Yoenis Cespedes

By and large, Detroit Tigers’ fans have fully embraced Yoenis Cespedes. Although he has had an up and down season, getting hot by going over .300 but recently hitting a cold streak and falling to a .285 average, he has quickly become a fan favorite. It seems that more fans dread a possible trade of Cespedes more than one involving David Price.

There has always been rumors of Cespedes not meshing well with his teams, including one report which said “he marches to his own drum and the coaches hate him.”

The Tigers have not had a good season to date and the clubhouse has had an issue here or there (i.e. David Price zero uniform miscommunication) but nothing has escaped about Cespedes.

He even reportedly stated his desire to stay in Detroit (which he has said all season long) even if he is traded at the deadline.

It is no secret that Dave Dombrowski has desired Cespedes’ skills for several years. The Tigers were very much in the sweepstakes to sign him out of Cuba during the 2012 offseason, but ultimately bowed out when they changed course to sign Prince Fielder.

Perhaps this could be a factor because if Dombrowski is no longer the Tigers’ GM, the newbie may not be as enamored with Cespedes.

Time will tell, but it is clear that the addition of Cespedes in the lineup, even with his slight inconsistency, has stabilized it, even without Miguel Cabrera.

Cespedes is still young, will be 30 next year, and has several productive years in front of him to serve as part of the core to the rebuilding/revamping/reshuffling effort (whatever you want to call it) along with Miggy, Jose Iglesias, an emerging Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez and James McCann.

Next: MCB Tiger Talk: Buy or sell